From Big Media Blog: During his weekly talk show Aug. 21, KVOR’s Jimmy Lakey goes into hysterical laughter when a caller tells him that Michele Obama reminds her of a character in Planet of the Apes. (h/t Political Carnival)

Medger Chauncey Duckens, a pastor’s nephew, has been arrested and is accused of sending lewd text messages to an underage female church member. Duckens was charged with online solicitation of a minor. According to court documents, Duckens works as a sound technician at a southwest Houston church and he met the 15-year-old girl while she worked in the sound room at the church, ABC 13 reports. Shameful. Talk about wolf in sheep’s clothing.

A “mini-riot” broke outside a Hyatt Regency Hotel located downtown Minneapolis, Saturday night. Earlier reports had characterized the “wild scenes” on the busy streets outside the hotel, where the teen party was held, as a riot, but it has since been downgraded to a “mini-riot.” Um, exactly what’s a “mini-riot?” Didn’t realize riots come in different flavors! In any case, we all know they’re really calling this a “flash mob” and there’s no justification for the behavior of these youths. It’s wrong and self-destructive.

Three people were arrested Saturday night when a melee that a police spokesman described as a “mini-riot” broke out in downtown Minneapolis after a teen dance party.

Dozens of police officers from Minneapolis, the State Patrol and other law enforcement agencies responded to a chaotic scene after the Big Bash 2 party, which was held in an exhibition hall next to the Hyatt Regency Hotel at 1300 Nicollet Mall.

At about 10 p.m., police responded to a report that hotel security employees were fighting with event-goers, said police spokesman Sgt. William Palmer. Shortly after that, partygoers began moving north on Nicollet Mall, throwing patio furniture from restaurants into the street and getting into confrontations with people they encountered.

Several large fights broke out within the group, which eventually congregated in the area of S. 10th Street and Nicollet, blocking the intersection.

Serena Williams’ outburst yesterday at the U.S. Open had nothing to do with “entitlement” due to race, as Fox News’ bleached-hair Barbie knock-off, Gretchen Carlson, would have you believe. It was more out of frustration at the imminent upset she was staring at by Samantha Stosur. How many times did we sit through John McEnroe’s verbal tirades at the U.S. Open and Wimbledon? How many times have we had bad behavior from white athletes and I don’t recall hearing anyone say it’s because they felt entitled to go on a tirade. Serena Williams’ behavior towards chair umpire Eva Asderaki was very unprofessional, but had nothing to do with race.

Yesterday, Williams was being outplayed by Stosur at Arthur Ashe Stadium and had already lost the first set when she let out a huge cry. Chair umpire Eva Asderaki then told her the point would go to Stosur because she had committed an intentional hinderance.

Williams asked for a replay but when the Greek umpire refused, the tennis star accused her of being involved in the 2009 incident. Pointing her finger, Williams yelled: ‘Aren’t you the one that screwed me over last time here? Yeah you are.’Seriously, you have it out for me? ‘I promise you, that’s not cool. That’s totally not cool. ‘I truly despise you. And during the break, she continued her tirade. Sitting in a chair while drinking water, Williams warned her: ‘If you ever see me walking down the hall, look the other way because you’re out of control. Source

This had nothing to do with race from Serena Williams’ vantage point, but everything to do with ego. We’ve seen it from male athletes, so why are people shocked this morning?

UPDATE#1: Serena Williams has been fined $2,000 for her tirade against umpire Eva Asderaki. That was just a drop in the bucket considering she made over $1 million for competing in the U.S. Open.

Americans’ views on interracial marriages between blacks and whites changing, with 86% now approving of such unions.

Most Americans now approve of interracial marriages between blacks and whites, with 86 percent now approving such unions, according to a recent Gallup polls.

Americans’ views on interracial marriage have undergone a major transformation in the past five decades. When Gallup first asked about black-white marriages in 1958, 4% approved. More Americans disapproved than approved until 1983, and approval did not exceed the majority level until 1997.

[….]

Approval of black-white marriages is at a record high among blacks and whites. Blacks have always been more approving than whites of interracial marriage, going back to 1968 when Gallup first was able to report reliable estimates on each group’s opinions. However, the gap in approval ratings has narrowed considerably, averaging 13 percentage points since 1997 but 32 points from 1968-1994. Source: Gallup

Well, that’s great news. Personally, I am for interracial unions. Who cares about color when two people love each other? That could be a good thing for black women who can’t seem to find what they are looking for in their own race. Look yonder, there’s nothing wrong with exploring your options. Just saying…..

URGENT: As many as 100 people are feared dead in a fire caused by a leaking fuel pipeline in the Lunga Lunga industrial area located in Nairobi, Kenya. The area is surrounded by a sprawling slum. According to media reports, flames leapt out from the pipeline in a radius of some 300 meters,setting shacks ablaze and incinerating scores of people.

Reporters later saw clusters of charred bodies and blackened bones at the site. Some burned bodies floated in a nearby river filled with sewage, according to the AP. Homes had been built right up to the pipeline, the residents said.

“We are putting the number of dead at over 100, we are waiting for body bags to put the victims into,” said Thomas Atuti, a local police commander.

“There had been a leak in the fuel pipline earlier, and people were going to collect the fuel that was coming out,” said Joseph Mwego, a resident. Source

Our thoughts and prayers go out to the people affected by this tragedy in Nairobi, Kenya. It is such a sad commentary that the people, many of whom are poor, rushed in harm’s way to collect fuel and unknowingly walking into a literal minefield.

Weekend Gun Violence: Chester, Pa., police are investigating a shooting that left six men injured just after 2 a.m. Sunday night. According to Delco Times, police said that some of the victims told them that the shooting took place in a parking lot around Ninth and Kerlin Streets.

Is it time for us to stop commemorating the terrorist attacks on September 11th? Apparently Tom Engelhardt, a fellow at the liberal-leaning The Nation Institute and a professor at the Graduate School of Journalism at the University of California, Berkeley, would like us to do just that. In an op-ed on Al-Jazeera.com, he said it’s time for the United States to “bag” remembrance of the September 11 attacks. Does he really think that’s fair to all those people who lost their lives in those unspeakable acts of violence? What about the family members left to grieve the demise of their loved ones at the hands of terrorists? Here’s an excerpt from the op-ed:

Let’s bag it.

I’m talking about the tenth anniversary ceremonies for 9/11, and everything that goes with them: the solemn reading of the names of the dead, the tolling of bells, the honouring of first responders, the gathering of presidents, the dedication of the new memorial, the moments of silence. The works.

Let’s just can it all. Shut down Ground Zero. Lock out the tourists. Close “Reflecting Absence”, the memorial built in the “footprints” of the former towers with its grove of trees, giant pools, and multiple waterfalls before it can be unveiled this Sunday. Discontinue work on the underground National September 11 Museum due to open in 2012. Tear down the Freedom Tower (redubbed 1 World Trade Center after our “freedom” wars went awry), 102 stories of “the most expensive skyscraper ever constructed in the United States”. (Estimated price tag: $3.3bn.) Eliminate that still-being-constructed, hubris-filled 1,776 feet of building, planned in the heyday of George W Bush and soaring into the Manhattan sky like a nyaah-nyaah invitation to future terrorists. Dismantle the other three office towers being built there as part of an $11bn government-sponsored construction programme. Let’s get rid of it all. If we had wanted a memorial to 9/11, it would have been more appropriate to leave one of the giant shards of broken tower there untouched.

Ask yourself this: ten years into the post-9/11 era, haven’t we had enough of ourselves? If we have any respect for history or humanity or decency left, isn’t it time to rip the Band-Aid off the wound, to remove 9/11 from our collective consciousness? No more invocations of those attacks to explain otherwise inexplicable wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and our oh-so-global war on terror. No more invocations of 9/11 to keep the Pentagon and the national security state flooded with money. No more invocations of 9/11 to justify every encroachment on liberty, every new step in the surveillance of Americans, every advance in pat-downs and wand-downs and strip downs that keeps fear high and the homeland security state afloat.

It is absolutely amazing at the how little regard people like Tom Engelhardt have for the victims of these attacks. We commemorate a whole hosts of events that brought pain and suffering to innocent Americans, so why take offense to 9/11? No matter what your political affiliation or ideology, it is just plain wrong to ask or even entertain any thoughts of obliterating the events of 9/11 from our memories. You just can’t wipe it out of your mind. What he wrote is far more destructive and divisive than the mess Paul Krugman wrote in his short column. I agree that both the Republicans and Democrats have publicized this tragedy ad nauseam, but is it fair to ask Americans to forget and wipe it from our collective consciousness?

Centino Kemp, the fifth young black man to accuse Bishop Eddie L. Long of sexual coercion, to publish book, “First Lady” about his relationship with the bishop and how he saw himself as the Long’s other “First Lady.”

Drama: Centino Kemp, the fifth black man to accuse Bishop Eddie L. Long, senior pastor at New Birth Missionary Baptist Church in Lithonia, Ga., of sexual coercion, is in the works to publish a book, entitled, “First Lady,” about his relationship with “Dick Tracy.” Kemp will be known as Bishop Long’s other “First Lady.” LMAO! Let me preface this by saying there are two sides to every story. Until we hear from Bishop Long, the drama will continue to unfold and not abate. The obvious issue I have with this is that what Centino Kemp alleges occurred between he and Bishop Long seems to be a little different from the other four young men — Spencer LeGrande, Jamal Parris, Maurice Robinson and Anthony Flagg — have said. At least what we have been told, thus far. What made Kemp feel he was the “other First Lady?” Is he being truthful or was this a figment of his imagination? In any case, we’ll read his version of the events soon enough.

Here’s an excerpt from the press release:

BISHOP EDDIE LONG vs CENTINO KEMP (The Fifth Named Accuser) CENTINO SHALL BE KNOWN IN PRINT AS THE BISHOP’S OTHER “ FIRST LADY” CENTINO KEMP’S BOOK IS COMPLETE AND READY FOR PUBLISHING AND PRINT.

Centino Kemp who has been named as the fifth accuser in the love affairs of Bishop Eddie Long, the head of the New Birth Church in Atlanta, GA. Centino has completed a book where he describes himself as Bishop Longs “FIRST LADY”. The book has been completed and is now ready for publishing.

WASHINGTON, D.C. -September 7, 2011. —— Under the exclusive representation of S. Greene, of Capitol Broadcast Shows Television Network in Washington, D.C., a screenplay is being developed for either a major Television Network, or the big screen that tells the full story of the “ THE FIRST LADY”. The 22 year old Bahamian is revealing a very emotional story of his six year love affair with the Bishop, and the reason’s that he alone is “THE FIRST LADY” of the New Birth Church.The Library of Congress is now holding the registered copy of the first of a two part book penned under the name “THE FIRST LADY”. Centino Kemp with the assistance of writer T. Benson Glover originally from Philadelphia who now is a recent resident of Atlanta, Georgia. Glover a “Essence” best selling author of the novel “SISTER” will hold the co-author position with Kemp for this first of a two book series.

“I thought it was an important story that needed to be shared but also told in the proper way. I felt Centino was a very sincere, and brave young man to be able to work through his pain to find peace with God and continue to strive to make it to a better place in his heart and his mind”…stated Glover who began writing the book with Centino months ago.

The book under the title of “The First Lady” is a strong, emotional story that deals with the corruption and manipulation of the highest degree by one of the most trusted entities..a “spiritual father”. It is definitely a must read for all, and soon to be a film that you must see as well”….said Greene; we are more than honored to be working with Centino, who happens to be a very talented musical artist as well.”

“My loss of innocence might be the most poignant description I can give in my story. It showed me how when cultivated by evil intentions, a young boy can be forever scarred during his quest to manhood, and I will probably never regain the trust and purity I once had” stated Centino.

“The First Lady” is the life story of Centino Kemp. A talented young man born in the Bahamas, it explores Kemp’s upbringing in a highly Christian family. As a youth, he longs to find closeness with his family that is sorely missing, all while coping with the absence of his father. Centino’s adverse relationships with the male figures in his life or lack of, combined with the in and out role of his mother’s presence while in his adolescence, led to his struggles with his own sexuality. Then at the tender age of sixteen, Centino heads to the United States to attend a University in Florida. Alone in this new country, minus guidance or a nurturing figure, Centino is seduced by a powerful religious figure who becomes not only the father figure he never had, but also his lover for six very long and intense years.His soul becomes tortured as he forced to deal with a realm of emotions and situations he never thought he would ever encounter. In this story of love, lust, power, extravagant living, travel, betrayal, deceit, rape, down-low homosexual lifestyle, molestation, church corruption, secret societies, suicide attempts and religion, Centino Kemp gives you an in depth look into the pain, sorrow, trials, and triumphs of his first twenty-two years on earth, and how he ultimately came to be known as his lovers “ First Lady”.

I feel this book is going to open a lot of people’s eyes about the trusted institutions known to us as our place of worship and the people we look to as leaders, especially the role they play in our children’s lives. No one is without sin; sometimes power and influence can lead the devil to do his most devastating damage and a damage that can never be erased in someone life,….and misguided heart..

His chapters contains details of abuse that have been hushed up and covered up, even by the spiritual father himself. While the cases of sexual abuse continued to impact others, Centino explained that he wrote the book to “help victims feel that their voice has at last been heard”.

Well, what can I say? There will be more books in the works. It’s all about who gets their book published first for New Birth to be rocked to the core. I guess the young men, Spencer LeGrande, Jamal Parris and Centino Kemp will rather take their chances at telling the world what really happened than to stay quiet with the “settlement money” they were paid. You can’t heal if you remain quiet. You have to let it all out at some point in order to move forward. The truth shall set you free!